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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 07-01-12
CONTENTS
[01] PAPADOPOULOS - CYPRUS ISSUE
[01] PAPADOPOULOS - CYPRUS ISSUE
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos has warned against calls for a
meeting between himself and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community
Mehmet Ali Talat, without previously preparing the ground properly. The
fundamental provision of the July agreement, between myself and Mr
Talat, is that all issues, that will form the basis of any negotiations
for a political settlement, have first to be prepared through
discussions, he stressed, adding that anything to the contrary would
probably lead to a discussion that will reaffirm the gap between the
two sides.
He emphasized that what he is seeking is progress towards a solution
and not discussions for the sake of talking, noting that there are
still differences of opinion, different proposals and ideas as how the
ground can be prepared to enable the leaders of the two communities to
reach a compromise. Those who advocate a meeting or talks, without
preparing the ground properly, are in fact suggesting a reaffirmation
of the respective positions of the two sides and therefore confirmation
of a deadlock. Responding to questions, he said the Turkish Cypriot
side maintains that it wants to see the July agreement implemented and
the Greek Cypriot side wants the provisions of the agreement applied
without any terms or preconditions.
Questioned on the possible opening of another crossing, to and from the
northern Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, at the end of Ledra
street, in Nicosia, he said that we are talking about opening a
crossing point and not demolishing a few steps. His remarks came after
the Turkish Cypriots demolished earlier this week an illegally built
bridge, in the UN-controlled buffer zone, at the end of Ledra street, a
main commercial street. The only thing that the Turkish Cypriots have
done is to demolish the bridge, the Turkish military is still there, as
they had demanded, and consequently there is no opening, we have
witnessed the demolition of a few steps, Papadopoulos added.
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